Terrible crash.

Seemed like a really nice man.

who was darrel russell

Darrell was the driver of Joe Amato's top fuel dragster. This is just terrible news :( I didn't know Darrell but from what I hear he was a super nice guy. My deepest condolences to the family and crew. RIP Darrell, We will see you at the finish line.

Rob

I recieved a call from my friend (Darrell's cousin) last night before the announcement letting me know family had called and said he passed away. It was a terrible crash. He was a nice guy and spoke to any of the fans that came by. RIP

what happened?

nhra.com doesn't really tell you details. i watched half of the coveregae on ESPN2 but i didn't see it.

I don't think it has been determined exactly what the cause of the accident was. The car began to disintegrate near the end of the quarter mile. One tire came apart, but it is unknown if the tire was the cause of the accident, or if one of the flying pieces tore up the tire.
The car brushed against Scott Kalitta's car in the other lane, then came back and hit the wall hard. One of the emergency workers interviewed on TV said that pieces of the car had entered the cockpit area.

Watched it yesterday, and I dozed off before anything was said. I couldn't see anything resembling a rollcage in the mess that ensued. Looked like a rear tire shredded and caused havoc.

Our prayers are with the Russel family.

I just saw the accident on ESPN. It did not appear to me that the car had any sort of hard impact with the wall or the other car. It just disintegrated when the tire came apart, and something entered the cockpit. I know the chassis are supposed to flex for traction purposes and all that, but the NHRA needs to look long and hard at how these cars are constructed. If a tire failure or engine explosion can saw a car in half and compromise the cockpit area, it's probably time to start mandating that the chassis be a little more stout.

http://www.amatoracing.com/

It is sad when this happens. The last NHRA death occured in 1996. I think the fact that more haven't died is a testament to how hard these teams work to keep their drivers safe. But no matter how much you prepare or plan it's going to happen, and I don't think any thing will change that. But I suppose this is what sets Motor sports apart from the rest.

R.I.P.
Darrell Russell

Darrell will be missed, that is for sure.

At the professional level I believe that drag racing is just about the safest motorsport that exists. I am certain that all available avenues will be searched in an attempt to understand what caused this tragedy. If it is determined that any component specification change is needed, it will surely be made. Even if it is decided that a freak failure is to blame, the question of how to better protect the cockpit from debris entry is probably under serious discussion right now.

Godspeed Darrell.

Thomas

Blaine Johnson's crash in 1996 and Darrell's accident last weekend both occured at or near the top end of the track. (NHRA put gates on the early turn-outs to help solve the problem that took Blaine's life.) I would imagine that NHRA is seriously considering shortening all sanctioned tracks to 1/8 mile, at least for the fuel cars. This has been proposed in the past and has been vigorously opposed by most of us who have run on quarter mile strips for years.
As a side note, one of the local dragstrips has began racing only 1/8 mile drags because the track insurance is significantly less money to run the shorter distance. We may end up telling our grandkids about how we ran quarter mile drags in the "good old days".

1/8 mile drag racing is boring. It would be better to slow the cars down, in my opinion.

Ah, Its ashame what happened but I'd say all those cars are very safe. Drivers and everyone else know the risk they're taking... Nobody is forcing them to strap into the car and blast to 330mph. Slowing the cars down or running 1/8th mile would completely ruin the entire "sport" of it.

I agree. If you want to slow them down then why not slow all highway speed limits to 40 mph. Think of all the lives you will save!!! Yea right.....

Why not increase the tube thickness. It seems like some of the crashes I've seen that the frame brakes somewhere towards the rear of the dragster past the drivers seat. If they increased the tube diameter past the drivers seat it could make the frame more sturdy incase of accident and the front could still flex putting the downward force on the rear tires. Just a thought I'm sure it's all been discused before.

just my opion but 2 deaths in 8 years that anit that bad considering every one of those cars are atleast 200 mph and some up in the 330 or 340 mph range....... they all know theres a risk and thats what gets the adrineline going and thats what all them guys are out there for and they all LOVE IT...... darrell russell loved what he did to cept he rolled with the punchs and took the consiquinces :( tobad it hapend to a good guy like him

Yes, the risks are well known - does that mean that the science of safety should not move forward? Just because we have gone through a period of fairly low fatals does not mean it will continue to be so. There have been more than two professional drag racers that have died in track accidents in the last eight years, just at other than NHRA main events with drivers who did not have a national audience.

Risk or not, there is plenty of reason to consider rule changes to mandate carbon fiber driver tubs, some have talked about mandating one piece bodies for Top Fuel, race teams may want to consider only running the same set of slicks twice (have you ever seen the guys in the pits with grinders recontouring Top Fuel/FC slicks after a pass - ever wonder what happens if they "oopsed" and ground the tire too thin?). Many questions need to be answered, and this is the sort of tragedy that spurs on open discussion - after all, changes were made after Blaine.

There is nothing dull or boring about 1/8th mile drags - I'll guess that ~ 100% of those against 1/8th mile have never seen fast cars at an 1/8th mile track. Did you know that the same car doing 330+ mph in the 1/4 mile is just past 275 mph in the 1/8th mile? Think about that for a moment. My humble prediction is that I will live to see cars that do 300 mph in the 1/8th! As a matter of fact I enjoy the fast pace of a 1/8th mile drag event. When I go to the local 1/8th mile Thursday night drags I am often amazed at what times some guys turn - this last Thursday night I saw a Steel Blue first gen Camaro with a moderate cowl hood pull up and click off a 5.39 e.t. @ 133.95 mph.

Thomas

Originally posted by Aaron Kelley:
Why not increase the tube thickness. It seems like some of the crashes I've seen that the frame brakes somewhere towards the rear of the dragster past the drivers seat. If they increased the tube diameter past the drivers seat it could make the frame more sturdy incase of accident and the front could still flex putting the downward force on the rear tires. Just a thought I'm sure it's all been discused before. =
Aaron,
It isn't quite that simple. In a catastrophic accident like this you want the car to come apart except for the drivers area.

Mr. Russell was fortunate enough to do something he loved & I for one would have traded places with him in a heartbeat if the oppotunatity arose.

I have driven everything from bracket cars to Top Alcohol Dragsters & still do on occasion & I accept the fact that things can & do happen when I get into a car.

I also accept the fact that I can trip & fall down my front stairs if it's my time.

Having driven race cars the better part of 40 years I can fully understand the passion Darrell or any other driver has & I would not trade the experience for anything.

You are far more likely to be killed on the highway at 60 than a dragstrip at 300.

Don't know what else to say except to repeat that I highly doubt Darrell Russell would have traded his short life for any one else's & again having been around the sport for a number of years I feel it is probably the safest form of motorsports there is.

My heart goes out to Darrell's family & friends but I really feel most of them understand the risks as did Darrell &, at least in my opinion the rewards of living your life's dream if only for a too short time if given the opportunity far outweigh the possible consequences.

Originally posted by Bomber '67:
There is nothing dull or boring about 1/8th mile drags I went too my first drag race last month too a 1/4 strip and they had the Air Force One jet powered dragster doing exhibition runs. There was not enough room for him too shut down so he ran the 1/8th and seeing him hit 207mph in the 1/8 was good enough for me. They also had 4 other exhibition cars running 1/8 and they were hitting 160-170. Those runs were the most fun too watch for me. I would rather see 1/4 mi runs but if it comes down too it, I can assure you it will still be some good ol' racing if they run the 1/8th.

I have seen fast cars run the 1/8 mile. Saw a ProMod turn a 4.10 at 175 in the 1/8 this past weekend. It's boring.

I believe that NHRA will do everything possible to retain 1/4 mile drag racing, especially at National Events. With a quarter mile track you can pack in more paying spectators ($$$$$)!!
Drag racing is a very safe sport and like Mike said, you are at much greater risk of falling down stairs at home of having an accident on the highway.

Originally posted by Georgia69:
I have seen fast cars run the 1/8 mile. Saw a ProMod turn a 4.10 at 175 in the 1/8 this past weekend. It's boring. Come on now Mike, you gotta admit it was a little interesting when one of the pro mods made a move towards the wall where we were standing :D

Yes, but not as much fun as seeing your big Chevelle pull 122mph in high gear smile.gif

I say keep it 1/4 mile. Just because when you watch it live there wouldn't be enough room for everyone....I mean when you watch a national event on TV the place looks packed. Could you imagine putting all those people in half the space? Even though the top end dosen't have as many people in it.

I just watched him race in Columbus couple weeks ago. I almost fogot how awsome top fuel is.
The Miller Lite top fuler lost the chute at the line and wound up in the sand pit. That could have been catostrophic also. These guys know the risk, but are doing what they love to do. How many of us can say that about their job?

I'm always amazed at the people who think death can be put off. I say, take all the safety precautions you can, enjoy what life you have and be ready to die when GOD calls. NOBODY lives forever!

well said Harold...all you can do is your best.

BTW...NHRA has two new rule revisions for the next national event.

The rule changes include specifying a new tire for Top Fuel and Funny Car competitors and requiring roll cage shielding for all Top Fuel dragsters.

Rule Changes (http://www.nhra.com/2004/news/june/063001.html)